GTAm

Not surprising as both wanna be Mercs

Hmmm I don't really like to but I guess I can give you a clue. It is the market leader in SL. But like I said they have begun fixing the problem according to the motor industry guys. But understandably as it cause so much damage they have switched brands and mainly to the guys who did this presentation. Actually these guys did not mention anything about this problem. They were simply educating us about lube in general and theirs in particular which is cool. When it came to question time everyone asked about this thing.

Ripper good topic. I know almost zilch about subwoofers, but need one soon. My car has a average Pioneer stereo but I replace the standard with Rockford speakers and a Sony amp that I had. badly need a woofer for that deep base. What are the top 3 in your opinion and what kind of cost?

Very true Devinda. I think he understands what it means to lift up brand image and how the light filters down to the lesser models. Pity he's taking so long to make his mark at Renault. I actually now think it is a great idea that they dropped the Skyline name, even though I quite like the name "Skyline". A car with this kind of capability deserves to have its own name - GTR. It sounds more mysterious and serious IMHO.

I've heard from many owners that the 1.0 is thirstier than the 1.3. We had a 1.3 Bolero auto in our company. And the lady who used it (daily driven from Negombo and back) got 11km/l.

Er....would you pls care to read the beginning of this post please. The whole thing is based on this relationship that you cannot understand. Please Iroshana you need to know how an engine works before agreeing or not mate. How can anyone not realize that oil and fuel meet each other in an internal combustion automobile engine??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Without lubrication the piston would not go up and down. Ok it will probably for a few minutes and then sieze. Same goes for valves. Why put oil in the sump/crank case anyway? You might as well put coolant or even water which will cool the engine better !

Peri I'm a bit worried to get branded as a promoter of the rival product especially after the outcry by some that this is all a tall story . This company (whose product did the damage) is frantically working to modify their products but many in the industry are aware and have been switching. I'm sure a bit of independent research will give you the answer. Mind you the presenting company refused to tell us who it was either. But we made a few phone calls and found out. Also the guys praised another competitor product as equally good as theirs' in most respects. All the more reason for me to take them seriously. And to top it all I have been mostly using this (the presenters brand since my first car) and found it the best in the market even if it was more expensive. 'Mostly' because some service places slip in a competitor brand as they get big incentives even if they were instructed to put in my specific request. They'll cite non-availability etc. Oops have I promoted a brand ?

Where do I start with you man? The grouch of Autolanka I sure hope not. You have a tendency of shooting off and are easily offended if someone disagrees with you. Not to mention your retorting taking everything personal and being extremely insulting on a public forum. So please try to be considerate this time. I find your statements like "There is no way in this world fully synthetic oil can break down in 8months if its NOT used!! " quite questionable. What is your basis for this confidence? I'm afraid we in fact ARE talking about SRI LANKA and its conditions. This is AutoLANKA remember!? Sure your VW and Audi people say the right thing. You are in the UK right? You very well know that the quality, purity and octane ratings of the fuel that you get in the UK are a world away from what we get in your and my motherland!? And also I'm quite sure you know the difference in roads, traffic and average journeys between the two countries????? The other ridiculous point that I made (according to you) about the possibility using semi syn and mineral oils for a) Cost reasons - Many folk may not be able to afford 6k for a can of fully syn. The older the engine gets the tolerences within get lesser and lesser. You can't prevent wear 100% whatever you use. And so the benefit that you get by using a synthetic oil is relatively lesser and comes to a negligible level. However since you guys have shown so much enthusiasm I might try to get the reaserch in writing which have been accreditted by world bodies. But of course anyone is free to not believe all this. So while I have not done more research that VW guys I have had access to more research in SL than you for certain. Also for your info, the local VW and Audi importer just switched to this very brand who made this presentation. I have absolutely no connection with any lubricant supplier and that is why I refrained from mentioning names. But I just thought it was a nice thing to share with the rest of you car enthusiasts who love our cars and don't want to see what has happened to many others' cars to our babies.

Why do research when its already been done ? Your rash attitude could mislead many who read this forum. So I think we need a bit more responsibility when making accusations. If you were some sort of authority on this subject I could have taken you a bit more seriously. Are you? Our club has very eminent members who own and are extremely passionate about their machines. And so are not the kind of people who will invite anyone selling "Rubbish" as you state! I'm afraid I'm quite appalled at your rash reply without much thinking . You state that in the UK they say the opposite. Well what is the opposite? The "rubbish" he is selling is one of the most respected brands of lubricant that hails from guess where....the UK! It is the number 1 recomended lube for all the top UK car manufacturers. Aston, Rolls, Jag, LR etc and other Euro makers like BMW Porsche......need I go on? Most good engines are made to burn most good fuels. But we in SL have crap fuel. This has been proven over and over again, with car importers who have had their pricipals and local Unis analyse the loacal fuels. Are you aware that our fuels still contain lead!!?? Also you don't seem to have understood that I mentioned that the sludge problem was the specific to one suppliers synthetic product. You might want to speak to Toyota Lanka and Prestige Autobobiles to get confirmation on this. There have been scores of Toyota Vitz and BMWs that needed engine replacements. I have done my research mate! You also need to think about research that is done locally. The conditions are completely different from the UK. Our journeys are full of stop starts. The bulk of the engine where happens in the first 7 mins from start. This is a universally known fact. Then there's the heat. I'm no chemical engineer but any complex bonds are likely to break down over a period of time even when not stressed for long periods and the safe time frame might be 8 months. You probably aren't aware that this is exactly what happened to the Silver Lotus Turbo in SL which was using top quality synthetic? The engine was rebuilt by my mechanic that's why I know. This is why most knowledgable enthusiasts change the oil at first opportunity when they buy car that has ben sitting. The oil breaks down and you can feel it with your fingers if you have a lot of experience. If you like you may leave your oil in longer with your UK research that states the opposite. And that's fine if you're living in the UK. But I will go by the research done in SL in our extreme conditions that have been done by this UK company !

Guys, Our club had a presentation last evening about lubricants which was done by one of the lubricant importers. They uncovered some of the myths about this problem. Here are a few points that I learned and would like to share. * The Synthetic Oil with 95 octane issue is one particular brand specific. It was a problem with that particular oil from that manufacturer. * Synthetics are the best oils and they have no problem with 95 oct fuel. * The fuel available in SL whether 90 or 95 is filthy. And surprise surprise it not 90 or 95 actually. It's more 88/89 and 92/93 according to these guys' research. * No matter how little you've run, you need to change oil every 6 months for mineral and 8 months of Syn. The oil breaks down after that. * Sludge forms with mineral oils a lot easier than with syn after reacting with impurities in the fuel. If you buy a used car that has been run on mineral oil and you switch to Syn then the syn oil will bring the sludge to the surface or put it at the bottom of the crank case. * So you need to flush the engine before putting in syn oil. But Do NOT use a engine flushing oil as they (whatever is available on the SL mkt) are harmful. Use instead additional heated new oil. Some service places have a machine that does it. And that is recomended. * The older your engine gets you can go onto semi syn and then mineral oils.

PF, I just sent you a PM.

Rumours suggest that Alfa will change their logo again with the introduction of the Junior it will revert back to a design like this one from the 40s 6C

Sorry mate, not yet. Have not been able to get through to them. Will keep pushing.

Car?

Great website - http://www.mazdarotary.net/

There was a Rotary and it's a car tuners down under seem to love. Check my comment above on the condition of this car.

Not very great but resurrectable. One side of the body and the front end needs some neatening up. There's also quite a bit of rust that has been covered up with a hurried paint job. It started but it woudl not rev up. So I guess there's a problem with the carb at best, and the engines worn at worst. The rear end and right side was remarkably orignal as was the interior, which is very rare these days. And it was a 1200! I always thought there's was only a 1300. He quotes 150k but I think you can and should get it for 100k. It's in Boralesgamuwa in a road side car sale.

Whenever I return home late at night I hit the gas on the parliment stretch going towards parliment. 160 in the 2.0 and 140 in the 1.6 with relative ease. The unevenness of the road and low lighting is a worry though.

Here's my crude version. Btw saw this Mazda yesterday at a car vendor.

Here's what JC had to say about the Copetizione Coupe, after being refused a drive by Alfa. "...But the prize for swivel-eyed lunacy goes to Alfa Romeo, which has just started to build its new £100,000 8C. What this is, most of all, is a public-relations exercise. Only 500 will be made, and the idea is that we all gasp with admiration at Alfa’s genius. You’d imagine, then, that it would be keen for the likes of me to have a go, so that I can tell the world just what a marvellous car it’s created. Sadly not. It says all 500 have been sold already, mostly I suspect to people who’ll simply lock them away in air-conditioned bunkers and never drive them. Shame, because this is the car I was most looking forward to driving in 2008. First, it’s an Alfa Romeo, which, if you’re a disciple of all things motoring, is like the love child of every god there ever was. Lamborghinis are all right if you want to show off. Alfas are for people who don’t. Second, this is one of the most beautiful cars I’ve ever seen. Ferrari, of late, has forgotten the importance of style. Its cars are no longer pretty. This is. So pretty in fact that in metallic cherry red, on 20in wheels, it makes my hair start to itch and my knees stop working properly. And then, to justify the price tag, there is the technology. It has the same 450bhp 4.7 litre V8 that you’ll get in Maserati’s new coupé, and the body is made from carbon fibre and draped over a steel spine. The result is strength, lightness and speed. Sure, Nissan’s GT-R will be faster, but that’s like being married to Keira Knightley and then being jealous of someone who’s married to a horse with a first from Oxford. Inside, you have carbon fibre seats clad in Ferrari leather, simple old-fashioned dials and a sense that all is well in your little world. This could be one of the great cars. Designed by enthusiasts and styled by gods. It’s only a shame I’ll probably never find out because it’s being marketed by absolute morons...."

Very cool. But why not replace both "A" s with the rotar symbol? Just a suggestion.

Give a few days to get both numbers.

Interesting to know what the top speed record is. At our club track day most guys in 2.0 cars said they hit 160. But frankly I just could not take my eyes off the track to check the speed. Whenever I looked below it was at the tacho to change gear.

Isn't the limit 72km/h?

Yes it's a very cool car. Twin Cam engines 5 speed box and rear wheel drive. This is the model, You can read more about the model here, http://www.carsfromitaly.net/fiat/index.html The car I'm talking about is a project but a worthwhile exercise as it has good racing history. It was available a ccouple of years back. I'll check if it's still available. It should be. Then there's also a BC version that a wierdo owns, I'll get you that number as well. He changes his mind all the time so you'll need a bit of luck with him. Give me your email address pls.